rhymes with pickle.
So. After telling myself that I was just going to *rent* again, I found a pretty rental property that just happens to be for sale. And it seems to be in a desirable location. Maybe. Which is sort of exciting and sort of gives me a headache at the same time. Or maybe that’s from speed-reading the last 7 chapters of the Nolo guide to buying a house, which reminded me that I practically need a whole soccer team of people working for me if I want to buy. The good news is that they’ve extended the first-time buyer’s credit into April of 2010. So, theoretically, I could still find a house, buy it, and claim the credit. Woo? Tentatively, woo.
Honestly, I don’t think I want to afford the rental on my own. It’s $475 more than I’m paying right now – I was hoping to reduce my rent so I could save some more $, not increase it exponentially. Since it was in a location that might work for both of us, I forwarded the listing to Oberon – he’s been talking about moving, too. The poster removed that listing and I thought, ah well, I missed the boat on that property. And then I saw it had been re-posted. I think in the several days that passed between postings, I’d kind of discounted it as an actual possibility, so I was surprised when O. said he’d contacted the poster for more information. Initiative! Does that mean you’re actually interested in it, too, O.? The poster sent more pictures and asked if O. was looking to rent or purchase – hey, wait, the house is for SALE? I checked out the listing on zillow and couldn’t figure out what the asking price was – they list it as a range. Not that price isn’t negotiable, but still, it’s nice to have a semi-solid starting place to work from (and have an idea as to what’s in/out of range budgetwise).
I expressed my excitement over the possible house rental to my folks and they immediately started worrying on my behalf – letting me know in no uncertain terms that they thought it would be extremely…unwise to rent something I couldn’t afford on my own (and, I guess, count on someone else to contribute to the rent). And, honestly? I’m sort of irritated by their reaction. I’m not really that reckless. Currently, I’m not pleased, and regretting that I mentioned it at all.
I did email the poster back to ask her a few questions. I’m still undecided about the renting vs buying. I did finally email a local mortgage broker about the Mortgage 101 class his firm offers (I heard about this back in September, and have been thinking about it ever since) – hoping to attend not this, but next Monday night. May try to see the house in the interim so that I can either fall in love with it or get it out of my system – either option is fine by me. If the class seems good and I like the brokerage, I’ll see about getting pre-approved for a loan – so that I at least *look* serious to sellers and real estate agents. And then, I guess, the next step is to get an agent and look around some more – if I’m still interested in buying.
Monkeybaby has mentioned that she and Mr. Monkeybaby have been looking at homes. Maybe I’ll see if I can tag along with them if they’re going to look at anything anytime soon. They, at least, seem to know what they’re doing – whereas I do not.
***
I saw CSE Cooney today for our Cold Comfort Farm and French toast date. We, or rather *I* decided to skip the French toast, as dad made me crepes for breakfast and I was syrup-ed out. We had toasted cheese sandwiches instead – and sassage, and guacamole and chips, and crackers, and berries, and fizzy cherry juice, and grapefruit juice, and tea. (*pant pant*) And it was divine. We also watched Return to Me, which I hadn’t seen before. And it made me cry a lot. There was an Irish-Italian restaurant in it, a tragedy, a gaggle of quirky old men, and David Duchovny. CSEC *loved* Cold Comfort Farm, almost beyond my expectations. And I got to experience that little thrill I get when the people I like love the same things I do, for the same reasons. I let her hold onto my dvd, so she can bring it to CA next week and watch it with *her* deer friend (possibly *also* with that little thrill). And we did that thing where we talk about books and things and get totally distracted by our various tangents and wind up on topics unexpected and unanticipated! I also get a little thrill out of this getting acquainted thing, because even though we were introduced several years ago, it wasn’t until this past year that CSEC and I have actually spent time getting to know one another – and we have so much to say, because we’re in that discovery period where we either exclaim over how much we have in common or have to exchange all of our favorite things that the other person has yet to experience. “Oh, you simply must try this!” More than one of my favorite things are still on O.’s to-read shelf, so those will have to wait.
***
It’s getting indecently late. I shall sleep now.


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